The Sun. — London, England, 1864-12-16 00:00:00

F ALMANACK for 1865. Full of ( 2omic Engravinzs and lb - Amorous Writings. Price Twopence. TRAPPED in a TREE, by Captain MAYNE REID: and other Tales, appear in the CHRISTMAS Doable NUMBER of FUN, now ready. Price Twopence. OUR OWN CORBESPONDENT OUT OF SORTS—Lectures for Little Statesmen—How the Good Boy Tom Erown got into Difficulties, eza, In "F UN" This Week. One Penny. IFIFEBOAT SERVICES, —During the storms J of the past year the boats of the National Lifeboat Institution saved 417 persona from Elifferent wrecks on our roasts, The Institution also expended £13,819 3s. 2d. in the same perLd on lifeboat eEtab ishments, in addition to granting Xl, , 51 6s. Cd. as rewards for say.ng 714 shipwrecked persons by its lifeboats, and other means. The Committee of the Institution edrnest'y A i - 'PEAL to the public for ASSISTANCE to enable them to meet the continued heavy demands on the Institution's 137 lifeboat establishments. Contributions are received by all the L , .n -don and eountry bankers ; and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi. TER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The Last Night but One previous to the commence ment of the Christmas Pantomime. THIS EVENING, the performances will commence with YOU Ii,'NOW WHO. Followed by LA SONNAMBULA. To-morrow (Saturday), FAUST. Conductor, Signor ARDITI. Doors open at Half-past Six, commence at Seven. Opera t Box Office open from Ten till Five. Private Boxes, from 10s. ed. ; Stalls, 7s. ; Dress Circle, ss. ; First Circle, 4s. ; Pit, Met. ; Gallery, Is. No charge for booking places. No fees box-keepers. 3 In preparation, a Grand Christmas Pantomime. R OYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. (Opera Company, Limited.) Last Night but Four before Christmas. Last Appearance but One of Mr. Charles Adams. THIS EVENING (FRI DAY), Dec. 16, the performances will commence with Weber's overture to Preciosa. After which, Verdi's opera, IL TROVATORE. Leonora, Mdlle. L. Martorel'e ; lnez, Mrs A. Cook; and Azucena, Madame Fanny Huddart; Count di Luna. Mr. A. awrence ; Ferrando, Mr. A. Cook ; Ruiz, Mr. C. Lyall ; Gipsy, Mr. Melville ; and Manrico, Mr. Charles Adams. To conclude with the Third Act of MASANIELLO. Conductor, Mr Alfred Mellon. The Inciden tal Divertissement will be supported by Mdllea. Du:hateau and Bonlanti. Commence at half-past 7 o'clock. Private boxes, from 10s. 6d, upwards ; stalls, 7s. ; •dress circle, ss. ; upper boxes, 4s. ; amphitheatre stalls, 3s. and 2s ; pit 2s. 6d. ; gallery, is. No charge for booking places. The box-office is open from 10 till 5. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY- LANE,- Managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton, THIS EVENING, to commence with A YOUNG LAD FROM T',HE COthy IRY. Messrs. G. Belmore, Fitzjames, and G. F. Neville; Misses Helen Howard, It. Leclercq, &c. After which, Shaksnere's Tragedy of MA('BETH. Mr. Phelps ; Messrs. Creswick, R. itoxby, G. Beim° , e, Rayner, G. F. Neville, Edmund Phelps, J. Neville, Bartleman, (Sze ; Misses Rebecca Isaacs, Emma Heywood, and Miss ti elen aucit. Doors open at ha f-past Six—Commence at Seven. T HEATRE ROYAL, H AYMARKET.- Lessee. Buckstone. i HIS EVENrNG, MADEMOISELLE DE BELLE ISLE, Messrs. Howe, Farren, Gordon, Braid, &c. ; Mesdames neatrice, Angel, &e. After which, NO SONG NO . SUPPER. Messrs. Compton, Fdrren, r Clark, Weathersby, Scc. ; Mesd mcs Keeley, Villiers, Moore, Lovell, &3. And OUR MARY ANNE. To commence at 7. ROY AL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-- Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, BORN TO GOOD LUCK. I eddy O'Rafferty, Mr. Dominick Murray. After which, THE STREETS OF LONDON. Messrs. Vining, J. W. Ray, D. Fi her, D. Murray, J. Nelson, 11. Forrester. H. Mellon ; Mrs. Henry Marston, Miss Emma Barnett, and Miss Fanny Gwynn?, ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the sole management of Mr. Fechter. THIS EVENING, at 8, RUY BLAS. Messrs. Fechter, Ryder, Fitzpatrick, F. Ch ,rle4, M'lntyre, Garden, Raymond, Collett, C ifford, Moreland ; Misses Carlot a Leclercq, H. Percy, and Mrs. Winstanley. Preceded, at 7, by MY WIFE'S OUT. Messrs. H. Widdi comb, F. Charles ; Misses 11. Percy and E. ',avenue. To cone ude with NURSEY CHICKWEED. Mr. H. "Vlddicomb. Doors open at half-past 6 ; commence at 7. The Box-office open daily from Elev, n till Five. NEW TH EA IRE-R 0 PAL, ADELPHL- Sale Proprietor and Manazer, Mr. B. Webster. - - THIS EVENING, THE WORKMEN OF P4IRIS, Mr. Benjamin Webster ; Messrs. BillitLtton, It. Philters, Stuart, J. Clarke, Stephenson, Eburne, C. J. Smith ; Mrs. Stirling, Miss Woolg,ar (Mrs. A. Mellon), Miss H. fr.imms. Mrs. Biliington, Mrs. H. Lewis, and Miss A. Seamen. To conclude with DOING BANTING. Mr. J. Clarke, Mr. Stephenson; Mrs. Lewis and Miss A. Seaman. Commence at 7. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. Manager, Mr. Benjamin Webster. EMINEN r TALENT AND COMEDY DRAMA. Last Week but One of the present Management. THIS EVENING, a new Musical Drama, entitled THE BARONET ABROAD AN THE RUSTIC PRIMA .L.O.NNA : Mr. Flank Matthe s Miss Constance Roden. After which, at a quarter to Eight, a new and original Comedy Drama, in three ac's, by J. ralgrave Simpson. enti tled SY iiILLA or, STEP BY STEP. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews. To conclude with Mr. Maddison• Morton's New Comedy Farce of WoOD OCK'S LITTLE GAME. Mr. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress. Mrs. Swanborough. Tills EVENING, WILFUL WARD. Messrs Parselle and Belford; Miss Palmer. Followed by, at Eight, MILKY WHITE. Messrs. Craven Etoyle, James ; Mesdames Swanbor ;ugh and Manders. To conclude with MAZEPPA. Mesdames Raynham Simpson, &c. COALS. —The LILLES HAL L COMPANY'S COALS. Direct from their own Collieries. Marquis'.......2ss. per ton. I Double 21s. per ton. Top 245. „ Deep 22s. F. screened and delivered within five miles of their De pots, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf, Paddington, W., and Maiden-lane, N. Best Coke Terms cash. JOHN SCOTT, dole Agent. THE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SU N, ' Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, Can be had Every Evening of G. R. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. THE LATES r EDITION of " THE SUN" supplied, as soon as published every Evening by W. ALEXANDER (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 24, Old Cavendish-street, Oxford-street. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tais DAY —.'Morning, 3h. 53m.—Afternoon, 4h. 35m. To-monnow.-Morning, 4h. 30m.—Afternoon, 4h. 50m. t if * SUIT, LONDON, FRIDAY, DEC. 15, 1864. It is a melancholy task to peruse the address of the deputation of Schleswigers who waited upon King CHRISTIAN, but it is not unsuitable to cast a glance at the relative position of the respective parties. The year which is about to close has seen many changes in the affairs of Denmark and her Duchies, but it is satisfactory to mark that some ttibuto of respect has been paid to the KING, and that his Majesty has replied to it in a fitting strain. Such a display of good feeling and kindly wishes was creditable to both sides, and no doubt a pleasing recollection of this interchange of regrets and sympathies will hereafter be a consolation for both sides to look back upon. In simple and yet emphatic language the Danish inhabitants of Schleswig declared their opinions on the sad and serious occurrences that have befallen them. They begin with expressing their grief at the reception of the KING'S farewell, and then go on to deplore the calamitous circumstances which compel their alienation fror t the ancient rule. These words ought to make all the authorities in Prussia and Austria ashamed of thetnselves—or if that be im possible' it is to be hoped that they will regret that they are given f orth to the world, that other n a tions may descant upon their s a d s i gn ifi cance and solemn warning . g. " The force cf circumstances s separated those who have been united for centuries; brothers have been torn from brothers; your Maj e sty's Crown has lost a jewel, the preservation of which has cost torrents of blood." Surely this passage, in its comprehen siveness and clearness, exactly defines the state of the case as it at present stands in regard to this sed affair of the Dano-German war. Of course, the d-putation was precluied from giving vent to those feline which must have burned within them at the wrongs and injuries to which they had been exposed ; but sometimes the force of such senti. meats are better expressed by silence. The world knows who is respon3ib:e for the circumstances" that have drawn down the calamity referred to, and honest and honourable men will judge between the oppressed and oppressors. All must respect the notion which influenced the Danish inhabitants of Schleswig thus to come forward and " greet their old Sovereign for the last time." The occa sion was a touching one, and it sadness and sor row prevailed, shame and disgrace had no part on either side. There was a quiet dignity in the tone that pervaded both the deputation and the King that were suitable to those who were in such try ing circumstances. It must be a source of dissatie. faction to the tyrants who have wrought their destruction to find such sentiments of loyalty and attachment to the throne influencing those subjects of King CHRIsTIAN, whom it has pleased them to depict as ill -content with the rule that was over them. In earnestness and eloquence this spirit of devotion is expressed, and a more honourable me mento could not be put upon the grave of their departed allegiance—" We shall preserve our re membrance of bygone days, and the Dscish people on this side of the Konigssu will never forget its brothers beyond, for all our recollections are in common." Who can peruse these words and not be roused to indignation at the scandalous course of policy which has caused such misery and wrought such evil. " What millions died that CzSAR might be great," has been truly said in censure of such extravagant attempts at conquest ; but it is diffi cult to conceive for what purpose all this misery has been inflicted on the kingdom of Denmark and her possessions. Certainly neither greatness nor glory has been achieved, and the gain has not been so considerable that a powerful kingdom like Prussia should compromise its reputation and alienate its best allies and most strenuous sup porters. The King's reply was characteris tic of himself, and well adapted to the occasion. Self-reproach cannot attach itself to King CHRIS TIAN, for under very trying circumstances he has always endeavoured to act in accordance with the claims of justice, truth, and honour, and he can thus claim the sympathies of all who respect misfortunes nobly borne and sorrows that are endured with fortitude and resignation. He dwelt at length upon the regrets with which he viewed this inevi table separation from Schleswig, and declared that it was his chief concern at the present time ; of all his cares and sorrows, lately so numerous, nothing has so depressed his mind and weighed upon his heart than the " separation from the brave, faithful. and loyal Schleswigers." It is impossible to dwell upon this address, and the reply to it, without feeling more and more convinced that England has much to answer for in this disastrous and dis graceful affair. Much is required from those isdi viduals,to whom much is given, and nations are not exempt from the duties and claims of great power, wealth, and influence. The best satire on the conduct of our Gcvernment in respect to its policy, is to reflect how different would have been the case had Prussia been in peril from enemies as unscrupulous and exacting as herself. We would not then have witnessed such base truckling to the strong—such desertion of those Rho had received our promises of support, and such a condonation of cruelty and injustice on the part of our Adminis trators. Right and reason are not affected, how. ever, by the accidents of place and power ; and in this quarrel between King CHRISTIAN and his former subjects, we recognise another proof of the evil effects which have been occasioned by the un due preponderance of German influence which pre vails in our Councils and Cabinet. Were it not for the €3.traordinary lengths to which men sometimes allow themselves to be carried by foregone conclusions and long-established prejudice, we should almost be inclined to regard the proceedings of the gentlemen who yesterday waited upon Mr ADAMS as conducted in a spirit of satire. It is certainly dlficult to believe that at the present date a number of intelligent and influential Englishmen should be found to attend upon the American Minister with the view of tendering him an address for presentation to Mr LINCOLN, in congratulating him and the world at large on his re-election as President. It is still more difficult to believe that the intentions of these gentlemen were really serious when we find them both in their introductory speeches and in the terms of their address felicitating the Northern States on their abhorrence of slavery, and their sacrifices on behalf of the negro, and more especially congratulating the Federal autho rities on their kindness to their wounded pri.. soners, and the general spirit of moderation and humanity in which they have conducted the_war, in grateful contrast to " the deplorable and san guinary ferocity of European despots.' Of course, when addressed in such terms, it was not neces sary for Mr ADAMS to keep too closely to incon venient facts, so accordingly we learn that with reference to the late Presidential election, "Never was a canvass more perfectly free, nor more latitude taken in the discus sion of public questions and of the charac ters of public men." Certainly these gen tlemen on both sides have contrived to bring some very novel facts to light—facts which are strik ingly in opposition to all ordinary intelligence. But the members of the Emancipation Society are not inclined to be governed by any ordinary influ ences or to accept the conclusions which to most men seem inseparable from existing facts. Mr. EVANS, the Chairman, as the exponent of their opi nions, leaves no doubt as to the view which they take of the complicated struggle now going on in America. The "awakened conscience" of the North is the explanation which he gives of the con flict between commercial and agricultural or pro• ductive interests. " The awakened feeling of the North on the subject," he says, " has driven the slaveholders to rebellion, and that is really the whole cause of the war." He does not explain why the slaveholders should have proceeded to open hostilities when the awakened conscience of the North had produced no visible results. If the North had proclaimed abolition and the South had taken up arms to resist the enforcement of such a measure, there might be some ground for putting the cause of dispute on such a footing; but as nothing of the kind was ever talked of, and as the North began the war on the plea of enforcing the Southern contributions to the national) expenses, it is not easy to see the connection between the effect and this pretended cause. The North did not attempt to quit the slaveholders, or to cast out the offenders from among them, their great object is to retain them in their midst. The famous Emancipation Pro clamation, which is the only base upon which Mr LINCOLN can rest his pretensions as an Aboli tionist, was not issued till after many months of deadly war; and when it did appear, it took very good care only to deal with the slaves of the so called rebels, and did not interfere in any way with the property of loyal subjects. If emancipa. tion was an imperevive duty on the part of the State, it was as much obligatory on the loyal sub jects as the rebels, but no modification even of the hardships of slavery was pressed upon them. Those who wish to extend their principles by force should at by practising them th€ least begin elves ; bra?me a sudden Wholesale e mancipation the ne groes , without any provision f or fi nding ea ployment for the abliabodied or proFiaiou for the Fick and aged, THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 16, 1864. bore on its front the evidence of its doubtful humanity. A gradual emancipation is what real humanity as well as ccmmon sense would teach, and that is what it is to be trusted the South will ultimately carry out. President LINCOLN, who loves a joke, will certainly be inclined to smile at the concluding paragraph of the address, in which a fervent aspiration is expressed for that " good time coming," when perfect equality will exist be tween white and black, and no regard to race or colour is held before the law. Mr. LINCOLN must be very well acquainted with the fact, that such is very far from being the millennium of Northern dreams, and that whatever may be the wording of the law, white citizans will be anything but willing to admit the negro to freo end equal companion ship. But the Emancipation Society, which is "so very kind" to the virtues of the Federal Adminis tration, contrives to be "a little blind" to their faults; and the peculiar satisfaction with which they have noticed the moderation of the proceed ings of General BUTLER in New Orleans, the firing on the hospitals at Charleston, the desolation of the Shenandoah Valley, and the burning home steads and ruined cornfields that mark the progress of Northern generals, is certainly not shared by their countrymen at large. The open declaration of the Federals to ppocure success by any means, 'whether by starving out the Southern people or by wholesale expatriation of them as recommended by BUTLER in his recent address at New York, or by the application of " Greek fire to the people and hell fire to their leaders," as advised by the Minister of a Christian religion, all comes under the cover of the wide and conveni ent cloak of humanity. In this country we have long ago learned to estimate such professions at their real value, but it is a little too much for Eng lish gentlemen of various ranks and professions to offer the congratulations of their countrymen to the head of euch a system, and in the name of the fervent sympathy which Englishmen every where feel for freedom, and their untie nimous hatred of slavery, to felicitate the American States en the continuance of this cruel and purposeless war. Mr ADAMS was not inclined to pledge himself or his Government to any uncome promising theories about slavery. He declared, indeed, that the settlement of the slave question was a necessary preliminary of peace, but he honestly avowed the restoration of the Uuion to be the one great object. The Chicago nomination was the object of his dire invective, and in spite of the smooth speeches and wholesale approbation of of the gentlemen before him, he was well enough acquainted with the actual feelings and temper of this nation to be unable to refrain from some covert attacks upon those Englishmen who did not share their views. The fact is, that Americans, like foreigners, are well aware of the independent action of English politicians and enthusiasts of all degrees, and the proceedings of the Emancipation Society yes ter day afternoon are as much an exponent of popular sense and sympathy on the American question as the visit of the members of the Peace Society to the CZAR on the modest request of the Liverpool mer chants of famous memory, that the Emperor of the FRENCH would kindly favour them with his pri• vale opinion on the probability of a war. Court of Common Council, A Court of Common Council was held yesterday in the Council Chambers, tho Right Hon, the Lord Mayor pre siding. THE COAL DUTIES DRAWBACK FUND. Mr CHArLisr, the chairman of the Uity Lands Com mittee, said he wished to draw the attention of the Court to a matter of some importance. and in doing so he should ask permission to ask the Chamberlain a question. Mr Chaplin was about to preface his question with some remarks in re ference to the coal duties ; but The LORD MAYOR ruled that the rules of the Court would not permit a speech that might provoke a discussion. Mr LOWMAN TAYLOR thought, although he might agree wi.h Mr Chaplin in the views he entertained, it would be better to give a notice of motion upon the subject. Mr CHAPLIN, however, preferred to put the question— and asked the Chamberlain whether the Coal Duties Draw qack Fund, which was under the control of the Coal, Coro, and Finance Committer, could be applied to any other purposes than those in connection with the drawback fund. Mr PARKER said the question was entirely a legal ques tion, and one which the Chamberlain could not and ought not to answer, Mr CuArmic said if the matter was to be shrouded in so much mystery, he should think the funds were really not used for their proper purposes. Upon the suggestion of the LORD MAYOR, Mr CHAPLIN gave the following notice of motion :—" That the chair man of the Coal, Corn, and Finance Committee do send to the Chamberlain's office. before the next Court, a detailed account, with the vouchers of expenditure and charges made in the Coal Duties Drawback Fund for the years 1862-3-4, and in future no accounts be paid by the Cham berlain unless accompanied with proper warrants." ST. THOMAS'S HOSPITAL• Mr Thomas Burrows brought up a report from the Ger.e ral Purposes Committee on the proceedings relative to St. Thomas's Hospital. The report was a very long, and, upon the motion of Mr IWGEORGE, the consideration of it was adjourned, and the report ordered to be printed and circulated among the mem bers of the Court. A report was laid before the Coust by Mr R. N. Phillipps on the reference to reconsider their report relative to the late James Bunstone Bunning, Esq., City Architect, and recommending that a memorial tablet be placed in the wes tern entrance of the City of London Schools, at an expense not exceeding 50 . guineas. There was some opposition to the recommendation. Mr Deputy FRY was of opinion that such a course would not be doing honour to an officer who had served the Corpo poration faithfully and ably. After some discussion, the Lona) MAYOR addressed the Court, awl said he had had the honour of being intimately ac • quainted with Mr Bunning from the commencement of his career as a member of the Corporation, and, with reference to the City of London Schools, he, from long expe perience, could testify to the fact that were most ad mirably adapted to the purpose for which they were erected, and he was sure, were Mr Bunning living, nothing would be more gratifying to him than to see a memorial tablet erected in these schools. Ultimately an amendment to the effect that the report should lie on the table was lost, and the report was agreed to by a very large majority. After going through some business of no public interest, the Court adjourned at an early hour. STORMY WEATHER.—SHIELDS, Wednesday noon. Last night, after dark, a storm warning was sent down to this port from Admiral Fitzroy, and lights were hoisted in the harbour at once. The wind at that time was S.S.E., and the sea was rising rapidly. As the night ad vanced the wind got to the S.E., and the weather became very stormy indeed, the sea breaking with great violence on the shore. Abut midnight several sailing ships and screw steamers run for the harbour and got in in safety, but dur ing the course of the morning the sea entirely tore to pieces the barque Amy Robsart which was stranded on the Black Middens. The Rocklight, of Liverpool, a large ship of 1,766 tons, arrived during the night from Antwerp, and a Russian bark made the run from London to the Tyne in 36 hours. The Mcrna, Leith and London steamer,which had put into Shields harbour through stress of weather, proceeded to sea yesterday afternoon. bhe would encounter very rough weather last night. The steamships from the Tyne to London were detained yesterday, but the Admiral will pro ceed to sea this afternoon. It is hoped teat some of the un recovered bodies of the passengers and seamen belonging to the steamship Stanley would have been washed up during the night, thr . ough the heavy sea, and a largo number of persons have teen on the lookout, but duwn to this hour none have been discovered. The weather is moderating, and the sea has gone down somewhat since the meriting, POLICE CRUSADE AGAINST THE " BOARDMEN.' By an exercise of the power vested in the Commis sioners of Police, an order has been issued to police-con stables to warn those persons carrying advertising boards in thoroughfares that they are acting contrary to law, and if they are again found offending they are to be taken into custody and brought before a magistrate. The crusade was first commenced against the large-sized pole-boards, when advertisers substituted "animated sandwiches," that is, men carrying boards before and at their backs. This, it appears, is now an offence, and by the crusade against them nearly 1,000 men, who cannot obtain any other employ ment, are reduced to starvation or must become chargeable to their respective parishes. It is a severe blow to a class of peteens persevering even its penury, as la 6J per day of 12 or 14 hours is considered high wages for labour of this description. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. FRANCE. BOURSE, Dec. 15.—The market has been heavy, and the business done shows lower quotations. Threes, for the Account, are now at 66f. 20e., and Mobilier at 933 f. 75c. Railway Shares rather offered, with a slight &clue on some of the lines. The market continued heavy to the close, and left off as follows : 41 per Cents .. 93 50 I Italian Loan 65 55 Do. end month.... Do. end mont h 65 70 3 per Cents Do. end month—, 66 25 New M ex i can - Credit Mobilier.... 933 75 Russi an 00. end mouth.... 932 50 Austrian Bank Shares 359) Spanish Threes.... Credit k oncier 1240 Home Debt Roman .. 71 Deferred EtAILWAY4. Orleans Northern Lyons and Medi turranoan Southern ... Cash. Account. 852 50 ~ 85.5 995 .. 997 50 875 .. 880 583 75 .. 553 75 515 .. 616 25 490 .. 492 50 316 25 31.5 435 .. 435 506 25 .. 506 25 372 50 .. 372 60 435 436 25 190 192 50 Western Eastern .... Sardinian Austrian Lombard .. North of Spain Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona LITERATURE, Blount Tempest. By the Rev. J. C. M. Bellew. Three vols. Hurst and Blackett. At a single stride Mr Bellew has taken his place among our popular novelists. " Blount Tempest" is announced as his first contribution to imaginative literature. It reads far more like the work of a ski:led and practised romeraceswriter- Its author evidences, in this first venture of his within the magic circle of the world of fiction, a combina tion of rare qualifications in his newly assumed capacity as a Novelist. Already known as an accomplished elocutionist—he now shows himself to be also an equally accomplished mateof-letters. His style has no crudity. It has the easy swing of one who has thoroughly mastered the arts of composition. " Blount Tempest," viewed simply as a story, has the all-essential charm of interest, and of an interest that at moments becomes enthralling. It is full of incident. Its plot displays in several particulars a Wonderful in genuity of contrivance. It is a plot that, through all its intricacies, is coherent. The events are knit together with surprising cunning and unerring dexterity. We are conscious—when we come to look back upon the whole scheme of the narrative —of no one flaw in the manner of its construction. We are barely caught, like the marriage guest, upon the threshold, before we " needs must hear " —our narrator holds us with his glittering eye, and we read on, chapter after chapter, volume after volume, so far as the preoccupations of life permit of our doing so, uninterruptedly. The tale that is here told, and told, too, in a manner marked by so much exhilaratin; vivacity, has about it a certain fascination. As, indeed, for that matter, any tale that is worth reading at all should have. And we have read it in consequence, not as a duty, but as a pleasure. Having so read it, we commend it accordingly. Mr Bellew is manifestly a keen observer of his fellow-creatures. He has a watchful eye for all their whims and oddities. He has a very lively sense of the humorous. As a delineator of character he is singularly felicitous, and we should find it difficult to decide, were we in any way required to do so, to which should be accorded preference among his imaginary person ages—whether, as a class to his male or his female characters are marked by superior excellence. The scene of his story is placed for the most part either in London or in Lancashire. Under a thin veil of fictitious names—names but very slightly modified from the original—localities are, here, described that will readily enough be recognised by those who are familiar with them. Too like might be said, almost as truthfully, we believe of several among the characters. Besides which, it may here be added, by way of completing what we have been remarking in regard to Mr, Bellew's dexterous blending in "J3luunt Tempest'' of fact and fiction, that more than one incident introduced in the course of the narrative will be recognised by some of the more keen observers in that-north coun try as the merest modifications or adaptations of certain actual and well remembered circumstances. Blount Tempest, the hero 'of the story, is the twin brother of Geoffrey Tempest —the former being the good, the litter the evil genius of the narrative. Oat of the accident of his brother's birth a few mo n th s earl i er than a himse of yearslf,Gecffre7f draws a j ea l ousy that in the course esters int o an unnatural hatred, prompting him to all kind s o f d ark and devilish to robbery, and ro m intrigues, robb e leading ry t o a ss him s inf froglyingco. A murder occurs at the very heart, as one may y of the laby r i n th o f the plot of " Blount Tempea. ,, as It is described in the very centre of the second volume, About it the thread of the narrative gets tangled and inter• twined, and ravelled 'up in Ipparently inextricable confusion—dragging down'in its meshes, as in a deadly net, the young hero of the tale, upon whom, although as innocent of th, crime as an unborn babe, every conceivable suspicion concentrates as upon—the murderer ! The way in which—in the most natural manner—all these fearful suspicious are brought to accumulate upon Blount Tempest's head, shows, on the part of Mr Bellew, the attainment at once of a wonderous mastery of his art as a Novelist, in the mere construction of the machinery of his tale, in the cunning adroitness with which his dexterous hand has thuadeltly put the various incidents together. There L not a minute detail in this central part of the fiction—the moul daring tomb tenoug the Priary Ruins, where the murder takes place, the scireted japan box, the purloined pistol with which the fatal shot is fired, the illuminated missal, th -- fafragment of the assas sin's coat, the pewter button upon that fragment marked with the name otthesash clothier at White chapel—there is not one of the most trivial among these seemingly insignificant particulars, but has about it, for the nonce, an especial, in its way a supreme importances Everything, more over, in this way, has lent before been foreseen by the author, and carefully prepared for. Nothing of all this, so to speak, is ei ttu i l e y dragged in by the head and shoulders, e s by an afterthought. To insist, again, upon what we have already specified as a distinctive merit in the plot of " Blount Tem pest, we would repeat a phrase we have before used in regard to it, by saying that the materials of the tale cohere. What the tale is, we are not going to relate here, ourselves, by any dry epi tome. Those who care to know, may learn it from Mr Bellew himself through the medium of these three volumes -- by the pertsal of which even the most blase Novel-Reader, one who has gone the round of the circulating libraries, may count upon being continuously interested, and at intervals nothing less than enthralled. If, upon fitting occasions, Mr Bellew here no less willingly, perchance, than w h en he is in the pulpit, under takes to point a moral, he does so unobetrusively. He has evidently no inclination to have himself classed among those domestic preachers whom be himself flouts as preaching at their fellow-creatures in all their moods and tempers, " inflicting morals upon their laches, and erecting schoo.s of ethics out of their good behaviour." A gallicism, by the way, is always welcome to him in his choice of expres sions, as where he refers, as with a scornful shrug of the shoulder, to " such gauche bores as Eogliah travellers." Of his skill as a land scape painter—that is in the word-painting cf a landscape—the following exquisite little descrip. tion will (brief though it is) afford the reader ample opportunity of judging;.._. The mountain-stream, the Wage, is a tributary of the Latino which fl )ws into the Irish Sea, Brawling among the York,ihire moors, it at last reaches a narrow valley overhung on either side by crags, that often lift themselves perpendicularly out of thu river's bed, and among their crevices give resting-place to tho ferns which there grow luxuriantly. For some two or three miles the `Valle flows between these steeps, rolling over huge boulders that seem in some primeval age to have been precipitated from the surrounding heights. Then it forms small basins with recesses sheltered by overhanging foliage, the ipecial admiration of Sir 'Nigel. To these delightful retreats he invited his choice friends to kill the trout. Beyond this, the rocks rise precipitously out of the bed of the river, as if they had plotted to cut ofl its retreat. But the Warfe is not to be out-generaled. It has cut its way through the ranks of the enemy in a narrow sluice known as the "Leap," some twenty feet deep, in the bottom of which it foams defiance, and with a hol low, cavernous roar dashes madly onward, impatiently spreading itself out, beyond, in a large expanse, fringed by a mossy award. The valley gradually widens, and the oak forest sweeping over inviting slopes casts its green shade upon the self-congratulating stream, that sparkles as if with sentient joy in having escaped from the turmoil and oppo sition of the gorge above. A few of the radiant phrases, scattered by Mr Bellew, with an till rent hand, through these volumes, will help to indicate at 01103 the spark ling vivacity of his manner—a vivacity lending a charm to a style that is never dull, that is often witty, that abounds at every turn with humorous descriptions. Let us particularise— by way of example—His mention of " the Georgian Era, when any taste seenrcd unknown in England except bad taste !" His definition of Froissart as " that prototype of Special Correspondents." His crowning commendation of one of the noble north-country moors, where, " had Daniel Lambert been trained upon them he never would have become the distinguished person into whom he developed !" His grotesque mention of the urn above a London citizen's tomb, looking for all the world like " a petrified wine-cooler 1" His hint of a certain proclivity of his towards Muscular •Christianity, when talking of certain " ebulitions of temper that commonly and healthily end in a round with the fists!" His de lightful setting aside of those" insipid picl:ures of singing charity girls or ecstatic little boys in immaculate surplices and picturesque heads of hair!" His disdain of our wretched funereal pomps, where he speaks of " being neighed and pranced into one's grave by entire animals !" As we have given one of Mr Bellew's out-door sketches, let us here give one of his brilliant little interiors. A KITCHEN FOR A DUTCH PAINTER. It was hung round with ornaments not brighter to look at than useful to use, tin saucepans and copper stewpans, which, with the rows of plates and dishes on the shelves, the stoneware jugs and basins on the dresser, the duck on the spit turning before the blazing fire, and the slices of apple and the ribbons of paring on the table, would have constituted a picture in a Dutchman's eye, worthy the minute pencil and elaborate finish of a Gerard Dow. A garden-scene to match—both by reason of its beauty and of its brilliancy—is the following . The Colonel had just discerned the peacocks displaying their plunarnrge in the lower terraces, and his mastiff sun ning himself on one of the steps, sthon he was made aware by a chorus of barking that his approach had been dis covered, for with a tumultuous rush, down each staircase, came dogs of very various descriptions; the glossy King Charles, the silken Maltese, the delicate Italian greyhound, the grim -featured pug, the long-coated Stye, and the sleek black-and-tan terrier. As exemplars of his widely contrasting manner, in the delineation of his dlftrent characters, take first of all. this graceful portraiture of the heroine of the tale, Mabel She had then attained her full stature, and looked com mandingly as she swept along, resembling the figures of angels seen in Flaxman's drawings, "trailing clouds of glory as they come," The thin material of her dross falling in graceful folds about her lithe figuredisplayed its proportions to the greatest advantage. The horrlble fashions of a later date were not then in vented, which disfiyiore a woman, and mar the outline that nature has dictated and art accepted as the Beautiful. And neat, as a vivid contrast to the foregoing, this incidental humorous limning ofan aged dandy— The Honourable Archibald Cavendish was well-known in Rotten Row, at the Opera, and elsewhere in fashionable life. He was indebted to the Burlington Arcade for his hair, to Bund-street fur his whiskers, to Cavendish-square for his teeth, and to various other well known localities for other artificial attractions; and, at the age of sixty-five, the restorers of faded humanity there carrying on their several vocations, flattered him with the assurance that he made up admirably for a man of forty. Occasionally the Rev. Mr. Bellew rather startles us, we will confess: as where he asks gravely," Why should Lady Godiva no longer ride into Coventry ?" Hardly ever does he condescend to such worn-out tricks of style as where he begins one of his chaps ters— '1 he Royal Grammar School of Launcester was a vene rable building, with a venerable Head Master, having venerable tunas end desks, and adjoined the yard of the venerable church, Rarely do we find him tripping (even typo• graphically, without an erratum) as when quoting— . " Quando corpus mozietur Fee, u 4 animo donetur Paradisi gloria." Instead of "ut aninu9 donetur." Besides whicb, a Catholic Priest would hardly require to turn to his breviary in order to read a familiar verse like that i❑ the'` S abat Mater." Dr. Clifford —the priest who is described as doing this—is, by the way, it should be said, one of the most charmingly delineated of all the characters introduced by Mr Bellew into his novel. In the outlines, and in some of the colours of this portraiture, there is a hint of a resemblance to Dr. Lingard, the Historian of . England. Blount Teenpes'," let ns say, in conclusion is chiefly remarkable for its abundant display of ►ife-like personages, of all grades and conditions, many of them described with a rare and delightful humour. The lady inhabitants of Hampton Court Palace—particularly among them a sort of fat cousin-german of Elia's whist-playing Mrs. Battle, of immortal memory—are pourtrayed with a drol. lery in its way quite inimitable. The Baronet, the Colonel, the Goal Chaplain, the Lawyer's Clerk Creevy, the Busso Profundo, the Shirleys, the junior partner Trigg,the senior partner Probyn,theßrothers Blount and Geoff. - ey, the fair young heroine Mabel, all are admirably clever, real, life-like delineations. Mr Bellew late, in this first Venture of his, fairly made a hit as a Novelist. And, upon his having done so, we may fairly, both as Reader and as Critic, frankly offer him our congratulations. Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day. Market steady. Sales, probably 6,000 bales, Market kept in check in consequence of the non arrival of tho overdue Indian telegrams. FATAL ACCIDEN T.—A melancholy accident hap pened at the largo school belonging to the Society of Friends at Ackworth, near Pontefract, a few d .ys ago. A young man named Neave, an assistant cacher in the school, while jumping over a pole in the gym rasium, knocked the pole down and 101 l upon one end of it, which enter° I about six inches into his abdomen, inflicting such injuries as caused the suffirer's death a few hours attewards. PROCLAMATIONS OF OUTLAWRY.—At the Sheriffs' Court, Red LiJn-Square, on Thursday, Mr Hemp, the officer, made proclamations in the following cases:— Thomas Isl‘Kuight, at the suit of William Henry Barber— James Hall, at the suit of W. Lingdon—Henry Lucas, at the suit of Thomas Henry Williams—William Nokes, at the suit of Samuel Fox Stephens and another—Hon. Riehd Bethell. at the suit of William Speritt—Williath Henry P. Gore, at the suit of the London Bank of Scotland (limited) —and George Warren, at the suit of Edward Watkin Edwards and another. The next County Court day was appointed to be held in four weeks. Each case has to be called at five different courts. GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—The Government emigrant ship Sirocco, 1,246 tons, Mr Ebenezer Roy, master, belonging to Messrs Rucker, Offor, and Co., London, which sailed from Plymouth on the 18th of June last, arrived at Sydney, New South Wales, on the 3d of October, with 300 emigrants, comprising 52 married people, 90 single men, 118 single women, 20 boys and 16 girls be tween one and twelve years of age, and seven infants—in all equal to 284 statute adults. under the care of Mr Am brose Newbold, M.D., surgeon-superintendent, assisted by Miss Eliz i Barker, matron, Three births and one death took place on board. ExPLOSION.—FOUR PERSONS SEVERELY IN JURED.—An explosion occurred at the Flint Works of Mr, Perry, near the Stoke Cattle Show, on Wednesday, which fortunately cast no lives, but resulted in severe in juries to four men, and the destruction of considerable pro perty. About half-past two o'clock a large boiler used for the flint grinding, machine at th 7 above works exploded, destroying nearly the whole of the premises. The boiler, which is about twenty feet in length, by six in diameter, was lifted from its position to a di4ance of about twenty yarls, and turned completely upside down. TREES MOST AFFECTED BY LTGIITNING..--Fig trees and cedars are rarely struck by lightning; the beech, larch, fir, and chesnut are obnoxious to it ; but the trees which attract it most aro the oak, yew, and Lombardy poplar. - Whence follows that the last are the trees most proper to be placed near a building, will act like so many lightning conductors to it. Again, the electric fluids attacks in prelerenco such trees as are verging to decay by rees r m of age or disease,--drmrican .Paiger. Barometrical Variations of the Late Storms, TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sir,—The variations in the readings of the baro meter at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, are shown in the accompanying diagram, which I send to you for your inspection. It includes 46 days, ending the 30th of November, during which period there have been several severe gales of wind on our coasts, producing, as usual, distressing ship wrecks, attended with fearful loss of life. The reading of the barometer from the Ist of October to the 15:h day was always high, and every day above its average, frequently to the amount of o.3in and o.4in, and on the third day to o.si❑ nearly. The direction of the wind till the eighth day was generally E. or E.N.E., and the greatest force of the wind during this interval was about 8:b on the square foot, ; • but usually the air was in gentle motion. From the ninth day the pre vailing direction of the wind was N. and N.W., but at all times weak in strength. On the 16th day it changed to the south-west, and the barometer reading descended below its average and declined to 28.71 in by 3 a.m. on the 20th, on which day pres sures to 91b on the square foot took place. The read ing of the barometer suddenly changed to an in crease, and at midnight on the same day was 29.40 in, being no less than 0 69in increase in 15 hours, It remained some little time at this point, and des caned to 28.901 n by 9 p.m. on the 223. From noon of the next day, the 231, its general ten ieney was increasing. It passed above its average on the 30th, having been 14 days continuously below, and at times, for 24 hours together, as much as three• quarters of an inch nearly. From the 233 the caurso of the wind was mostly from opposite quar. ters, viz., S.W. and N.E., but at all times light, and sometimes the air was almost free from motion. The barometer reading continued to increase, though with frequent slight falls, till Nov. 6, when the reading wes as high as 301 in, or 1 in higher than on the 20th. On the 7th day the reading began to decrease, Lied passed below its average on the 10th, it having been above this point flora October 30 (or 11 days), a part of which time it was for 24 hours together more than 6-10ths of an inch in excess. During the 13th and 14th days the dea crease was rapid, and the reading from noon on the 14th to nearly noon on the 15th varied only be tween 28.61 in and 28.64 in. Thus the decrease amounted to I.sin in eight days. At this time at Greenwich the greatest pressure we experienced was 31b only ; and it is very remarkable that, with so low a reading of the barometer about London, there was scat coly any wind, whilst fearful storms were rrging north of us. From the 25th the readings of the barometer oscillated, but for the most part increased, and were 29.72 in on the 19th, whilst the air was in gentle motion from the S.W. and S.S.E. Like changes followed, but decreasing readings were greater than increasing, till the read ing of barometer again was very low, viz.:-28.72 inches at 1 a.m. on the 26h, accompanied with S.W. wind, blowing with a pressure of Sib, on the square foot only. From this time the readings in creased, and on the 30th passed above the average, having been below 18 days. It cannot fail to be remarked that at all times when the reading of the barometer was above its average, the wind has every where been moderate in strength, but that the periods of our recent heavy gales have begun shortly after the reading has descended below the average, that they have been the worst when the departures below have been the greatest, and that the bad weather has ceased only on approaching the average again. One fact may be learnt from these readings, and it is one I forcibly impressed upon the fishermen on the Northumberland coast when I first fixed the barometers there, that at no time, and particu larly daring the winter months, should the warn ings of the barometers pass unheeded; for although the bar meter reading may be low, and indeed unusually low in some localities, without the storm passing over these places, yet they may feel certain that bad weather or gales of wind are at that very time most likely raging not far from them, and which might suddenly visit their localities without further warning. It is remarkable, indeed, that about London the butoine'er was no less than three times a goad deal below 29 inches, yet no storm of any moment visited us; but we have had ead evidence of the fearful storms then raging ou our northern and eastern coasts; and one almost sees the agonies and hears the cries of the drowning men, women, and children at Tyyemouth and shields, imploring help from the plunging lifeboat, two of whose noble crew perished in their humane efforts to succour their perishing fellow-creatures. All honour to these brave but nameless heroes, of whom England may well be proud ; and well may we mourn over those who, unhappily, perish in such sacred work. These sad wrecks were taking place all along our eastern and nothern coasts, while in London we were in comparative calm. I wish to impress upon all sailors and fishermen the necessity of care when continuous declining readings of the barometer are proceeding, and of viewing such a state of things as plainly indicating approaching gales, which may not visit their own localities, but yet may do so; and if, fortunately, a gale does not visit them on any occasion, not to place less confilence in the barometer warnings, but rather to be careful till that reading of the barometer be attained which is the average of the place. It is an ascertained fact that when great atmo• spheric disturbances take place, and great depress sions of the barometer readings occur, particularly when sudden, that they are the certain and sure prognostications of the approach of storms ; such signs no fisherman or seaman can, I think, now be so unwise as to neglect; for the caution thus given to him, conjoined with his own knowledge of the storms of the locality with which he must be familiar, will probably save him and others from loss of life and property. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, by placing reliable barometers (tested by me at the Royal Observatory, Green• with) around the coast, and thus directly prevent ing loss of life, may not gain so much praise as when its lifeboat saves a crew from the sinking ship; but I consider that it deserves E qual credit by taking timely steps to warn our fishermen from - , going to sea in times of danger. And surely the public will not fail to appreciate fully the feelings which prompt the committee of the institution to prevent as far as possible the necessity of having recourse to the lifeboat, by timely warnings to those who otherwise might need its valuable and ever-ready eervices.—l am, sir, your obedient ser vant, JAMES GLAISIIER. Royal Observatory, Greenwich, Dec. 15. THREE MEN INJURED THROUGH THE FALLING OF A PORTION OF A STA=LE,—This morning. about eight o'clock, the flooring of an old stable in course of demolition adjoining the rear of Aberdeen House, Marlborough-mews, fell with a loud crash, burying in the rubbish several men who were engaged at the time beneath the flooring in under pinning some walls. The men were afforded but little as sistance, some of them having to extricate themselves, and three of them went to the Middlesex Hospital, where, on examination by the medical officers of that institution, it was found that they were severel contused, but their inju ries were not of a sufficiently serious nature to compel their remaining in the hospital. The West-end houses of business have been for some time past making preparations for the Christ.- alas campaign, during which time they expect to be plea santly besieged by a publie most exacting and varied is its tastes and requirements. The stores laid in for that siege are abundantly strewn in the windows of the shops and overflow in the reserves within, so that a very large and a long attack may bo made wil bout exhausting ; and if the public do triumph, for once the besieged will say, " So much the better." Among all the many West-end houses that have laid in a large and costly supply of Christmas novel ties, in additLn to those which are meant for New Year's gifts, or those which supply all the year round wedding and other presents, the house or Messrs. I'. A Simpson and Co., No. 151, Regent-street, stands pre-eminent. Never have they more exerted themselves to excel in taste and variety, and never have they heaped greater stores together with the hope that they may be singled out tor patronage among the numerous firms who bid for the custom of the public. The windows show many things which are tempt ing, end that range from trifling value to cistliness, but these are as nought in comparison with the store within, where jewellery, articles of virtv. curi a,itips, knickknacks, clocks, dressirg cases, and trvieles of varied character for ornamenting the a t iartraent abcund, and at prices that range the awe :aodest figure upwards. te. „, (trillort ' 4 7/ti elrdiat HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, Dec. 15. Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinstone, left the Castle this morning for Greenwich Park. The Queen walked and drove in the grounds' attended by Lady Augusta Stanley. Princess Helena rode in the Home-park, O a Princess Beatrice went out walking. -410- The Duke :of Northumberland yesterday corn: pitted his 72.1 year. The noble duke, with the duchess, 16 at Alnwick Castle, in excellent health. His grace's birth day was celebrated yesterday by hi s tradesmen at the F ree ' masons"ravern. In reply to the toast of the evening', the " Health of tt.e [lead of the House of Percy, the Du k e 01 Northumberland," Mr Thomas Williams, the duke's g g ent ; returned thanks for the honour done to the worthy and benevolent nobleman whose birthday they had met to Ole' The Duke of D3vonshire and Lady L ouisa Cavendish and the Marquis of Hartington, return ed i on Monday to Chatsworth, from attending the fung a the Earl of Carlisle at Castle Howard. The Duchess of Hamilton and Lady Al ar Y, Hamilton have recently arrived in Paris from tile chateau at Baden-Baden. Tho duchess has been eon fined to her residence by a slight cold since her arrival fn Paris. The Duchess (Dowager) of Sutherland arrived at Stafford House, St, James's, on Wednesday, from Castle Howard, Yorkshire, where her grace was present on the occasion of the funeral of the Earl of Carlisle. Lord Brabazon returned to town yesterday from visiting Sir Stephen Glynne, at Hawarden Castle, Flint shire. Lord and Ltdy Etch° arrived in town yesterday from visiting the Earl and Countess of Albemarle, at Qui d• denham Hall, and Sir Edward Kerriaon, M.P., and LA/ Kerrison, at Broome Hall, Norfolk. Lady Constance Grosvenor has arrived in town from Calverley Park, Cheshire. Lady Caroline Lascelies and the Misses Lascelle° arrived in town on Wednesday from Castle Howard, York shire, after attending the funeral of the Earl of Carlisle., DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 186 6 1 On Wednesday evening, at the ordi nar y meeting o f the Society of Arts, Lord Dufferin, K.C.8., in the c hair, o ° ,l interesting paper on the " Progress of Irish Industry an the Dublin International Exhibition of 1865," was reat l : bl Sir It. Kane, F.R.S. The paper pointed out th e advance that had been made in various Irish manufactures and Judo' tries during the past ten years, and g av e a d e tail cf steps that had been taken towards the est a blishment of the second great International Exhibition in Ireland, b a opened in May next year. It was shorn that a very ge ° representation would be made, not only of Irish mantl fi li tures, but of the best specimens of art and indtastry of f the leading States of Europe, as we ll as o f I n dia, an d ° many of the principal British colonies. The hearty e°. operation of British artists and manufact urers was invit ed ' in order that all the credit might not f a ll to foreign e l 1 1:: bitors. At the close of the paper a discussion e nsued, T. 7" which Lord Powerscourt, Mr Chichester Fortescue, Mr Cole, C. 13., Mr Hawes, the Chairman of the Council, 913 other gentlemen took part. In response to an appeal IN m the chairman, Mr Hercules Macdonnell and Mr Antonio Brady gave an account of the cordial reception and ent ba : siast c promises of support they had received in th .° ..i sw f countries of the Continent which th e y h a d v i s it e d en of the Exhibition. THE MAGNESIUM LIGHT.—A singular circlia. stance was communicated to th e French photo' graphic Society at its last sitting by M. Placet. The Inag rje : sium light is so powerful, th a t w h en pl ace d a t a short _i; tance from the object-glass it will melt its surface. An object-glass spoilt in this w a y was p ro d uce d b y him at that sitting. Photographers had b e tt er t a k e th e hint, and / I°t bring the light too near the apparatus. Go AND GET HANGED ELSEWHERE.—The Sa lut Public gives the following as the origin of tb, popular French saying, " Allez vous faire pendre —"A thief was arrested in one of the smallest principalttte of Germany, and condemned to be hanged, but when di ° sentence was about to be put into execution the discoverY was made that two things were wanted—a hangman and gibbet. What was to be done ? The authorities hesitated to incur such a needless outlay, as the incident was the first 01 the kind. So as the poor wretch was penniless they P l c: him small sum of money to go and get hanged elsewhere. Thence the popular French saying. ADDITIONS TO THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE GAL' LERY.—Yesterday four paintings were added to 0 8 collection in the Parliament House. They comprise thde following portraits : —Lord Brou g h am (b y M acne e) ; ~ Elde n (by Colvin Smith) ; Lord Harcarse (by s cou gall) and Sir David Rae (by Raeburn). The portrait of Lord Brougham was exhibited in the Parliament House 1886 year, but was afterwards removed in order to make Oi l ! a alterations in the attitude and costume. As the portrait has been altered his lordship is made to appear in the robe of Chancellor of the University ; and there can be no clout d % that in all respects considerable improvement has been m ade upon the painting.—Edinburgh Courant. THE ALLEGED CONFESSION OF A "'— Sg MURDER.—About a fortnight since a report IP ; peared in many of the daily and weekly papers, copied 11.° 4 the local papers of South Wales, to the effect that there , been a confession of an atrocious Welsh murder commit" some years ago in Glamorganshire. The report state d ilia t,i the lover of the young girl that was so brutally mard r h e & had just died, and had confessed on hi s deathbed tha t was the perpetrator of the cruel deed. It now turns ° 13 4 , that no such confession was made, and that, in fo t ' h t n ie young man is still alive, and consequently the ty''' story was a hoax. A SIIOAL OF PORPOISES IN THE THAMES.'" —Ie :: o, terday afternoon some surprise was excited t t appearance of a number of porpoises in the River Th aw off the Tower, disporting themselves on the surface o f th er water, when not disturbed by the passage of the stea vle o and other large vessels. The creatures appeared beu t a making their way above bridge, and on b e i ng discovel e re number of small boats were manned and put off to eaP cu b c the unusual visitors, three of them being taken and br o ",- ashore, each upwards of a yard in length and of P r°l7 ,o donate bulk, and they were subequently exhibited a t fishmongers' shops in Bond-street. The appearanceer these fish so high up the river is said to indicate teWl) tuous and stormy weather. .h LIVEBPOOL FAT CATTLE SHOW.--This sh oe opened on; Wednesday in a large shed on the grounds of '-'Ol Zoological -gardens, Liverpool. There were 250 entries s stock, and in every class the show was remarkably t - b; being much superior to the last exhibition. Ant ee a g i 'winners of priz s for cattle were the Earl of Derby (1,, land oxen) and Lord Skelmersdale ( b horthorned bei iers t ir' O c sheep, Mr .S. Foljambe (Leicester wethers and ', 1 1. 10 down wethers), Mr James Nicholson (Cheviots), 312,50 Allan Polluk (Irish wethsrs)—pigs. Earl of Sefton breed), Earl of Derby (small breed), and Mr Thomas °fl oo d Suffolk, four priz:s (cup for best pig, middle, small, arge breeds). REPRIEVE OF TIIE DUKINFIELD %pro The Sectetary of State for the Home Delimit:l3' 000 having had under his consideration the circuois ie vi ll eX. of the case of Salome Marsh, who was convicted last at the Cheater assizes for the murder of her child a t ' t i to field on the 31st of July last, and who was sen t°c „ e- s , of death, has recommended the extension of the clentee" n a will the Crown to the unhappy woman, and her sen te nc e therefore be commuted to penal servitude for life. 0 0 A DEFAULTING TREASURER. —A meei v g ro l ' held at the Ciaretee Hotel, Manchester, 3 705-e k i a lo o at which it was stated that the treasurer to the jo had Relief Committee was a defaulter. It appeared aisteirst, iti tendered accounts showing• false balances from th e c1 ;0141 1862. One of his statements showed a balanc e of roe, when it should have been £2,041. On his disaPPe,eo ha b inquiries were made at the bank, where he should vise. £2,000, but not only as there no balance at all, ba d t e o c e found that he had overdrawn his account , Kts ,_ t one lions appear to have commenced with the fir st cos n action. oi° " PENTONVILLE PRISON."—The paragrap h ovie appeared under this head yesterday was pl ao respects inaccurate. The true account of w hat too. 9rboo oo is as follows :—A constable, by direction a S ir t oe Henry, chief magistrate atßow-street, proceeded ei t. 0 a .44 , inst., to Cardiff, with a warrant to apprehend CaP d . 0 00 1 He had ascertained that Mrs Craig had receive ;oda telegrams from a man named Brown, w ho had bee n Ge the' at the Angel Hotel at Cardiff. Brown proved toi vbl cJs mate of the steamer Argyll, bouud for LiverP oo 4l , 10 8 had sailed on the 22d of November, The c00;to since seen Brown, and found that he was marl-1:..4 OA Constance Craig on Saturday last. It was asses Craig had not been at Cardiff. singularce INSULTINGdispute t A e h S:v s jouuspt been.—A court at Berlin. A gentleman and a iie' l former strait); army meeting in the street, the stick of the ch party tu r ii i by accident the sword of the latter. E t : . e a u pol r y ou li/ out in °c fe a t last round, tahpepcairveinl civilian expectingremarked, a rk ed, sevolityh e t r hkei through the streets with your spit shaiechnegnded thert:r9 manner ?"' Iligh words foliovvcd, w n insult to his 01014,0 SWORD.—Au r u ff g a i h r t abret I:It:it 1 t i cur prosecuting his adversary president orthe court severely repr si _cr tha - and the court, con d . ' e , 6 ~ t o e 4 expression use , the in the possession of his coa honour by an injurious epitheit'oarppuoliveeddtothheiscivsrlioaraior Kccused could not be . c . es, 6/1 " dfaecrfinulteieds,wmadmtoitatendnee:ftelnsuLti,niegro c(i.rbeoutelatsl; k b '